Goldylocks zone planet: very few must exist (Introduction)

by David Turell , Wednesday, March 15, 2017, 00:14 (2810 days ago) @ dhw

DAVID: Your questions have helped my take my thoughts beyond the observation that God uses evolutionary methods, which is obvious from the history we see. If He is all-powerful then He shouldn't have to use evolutionary processes. So perhaps it is a choice, not a necessity.

dhw:So either a) he has the power and knowledge to design every single life form, lifestyle and natural wonder, but has to wait 3.X billion years until he is able to dabble the one thing he really wants: the pre-human brain (but you discount him experimenting – he just knows he can’t do it until he can do it); or b) he chooses to design every single life form, lifestyle and natural wonder because he wants to, and not because he can’t yet dabble the human brain.

That is the most garbled interpretation of my thoughts I've seen. All I've noted is above. It is possible He chooses to use evolution for all creations, and then waits until what He expects to develop appears. None pf your convolutions.

Exit the “balance of nature” argument (to keep life going until he somehow acquires the ability he needs),

The balance of nature never exits. He always has the ability if it is His choice. Whether He has limits is possible, but like the entire discussion, we don't know.

dhw: and enter confusion: if he CAN do it, why DOESN’T he do it? (Possible answer: because he wants the ever changing spectacle, and maybe humans are just an afterthought. Can you think of another answer?)

All you are describing is your own convoluted confusion. Simply accept the fact that He chooses evolution as his process without limitations. He has the right to any choices He chooses. Why complain, we humans are here?

DAVID: Either way it follows that He waited until our solar system appeared and arranged for life to appear.

dhw: Which makes him just as reliant on chance as our atheist friends. You realized that, of course, and came up with your afterthought, in which – also in company with our atheist friends – you have lots of other living worlds.

If He controls or guides evolution there is no chance. Multiple worlds with multiple humans is something we cannot know, but also something to be considered.

dhw: But oddball theist and pure agnostic, we are united in our quest for enlightenment, and long may we continue to jostle along with each other!

Right on!